One of the common frustrations for homeowners when using their HVAC system is not getting even heating or cooling throughout the home. Or, more specifically, not getting the warm or cool air directed where they need it most – as in, the rooms in the home that are used most frequently. With that in mind, some homeowners resort to closing heating vents in unused rooms as a way to control airflow. But is closing HVAC registers a good idea? This article will take a closer look.

To get help with your HVAC system in and around, Greensboro, Eden and the Burlington area, be sure to reach out to Berico for assistance.

The Quick Answer is Don’t Over Do It

The reasoning for using this technique to control how your HVAC system operates is understandable, but upon closer inspection, it’s not a great idea to close the registers in more than a few rooms. At the core of the problem is the fact that your system was designed to heat or cool the entire house. When the equipment was selected to put in the home, it was picked because it was the right size for the square footage that needs to be managed. By shutting down too many of the vents, you are effectively changing the square footage that is being heated or cooled – but the size and capacity of the HVAC equipment didn’t change at all.

In the end, this mismatch is bad for your system. You’ll be cutting off some of the airflow that the system is designed to handle, and you will also put some pressure on the ducts by backing up air rather than letting it freely flow out into the rooms. In the best case, this will cause your system to work slightly less efficiently and effectively than it should – but you might wind up causing damage to the equipment. It’s best to leave all of your vents open and turn to other methods to manage how the space is heated and cooled throughout the year.

The Ideal Solution

Rather than picking and choosing what vents to open and close, the better way to go is to opt for a zone control system in the house. With zone control, your HVAC equipment will have the ability to manage different temperature levels in different areas, removing the problem that you were trying to solve by manipulating the vents.

The perfect example of how this solution can work is seen in two-story houses. It is often the case that the second story is significantly warmer than the first floor. This is a problem in the summer because cooling the downstairs to a comfortable temperature will mean that the upstairs is still too hot – and that’s usually where the bedrooms are located. Then, in the winter, warming the upstairs rooms to a comfortable range will leave the downstairs too cold.

By adding zone control that is divided by floor, all of these issues go away. Suddenly, you have the ability to dial in the right temperature on both floors at the same time with just the push of a button. Talk to Berico today about adding zone control to your HVAC system and get better performance than ever before.

It’s only natural to be a little curious about a large tank of propane sitting on your property. Is this actually a safe situation? Fortunately, as the article below will highlight, propane is impressively safe, and you have nothing to worry about when you treat your tank properly and work with a qualified propane supplier.

Speaking of qualified suppliers, Berico fits that bill nicely. Thanks to fair prices, responsive phone support, a friendly team, and unbeatable reliability, Berico should be your first choice when searching for “ propane delivery near me.” Give them a call today to get started.

A Misplaced Fear

As stated in the introduction, propane is quite safe, which is why it has become such a popular energy source for a range of purposes. But that doesn’t stop some people from developing a fear of the use of propane tanks, which can seem dangerous if you don’t know enough about how they operate. If all you know about a propane tank is that it contains compressed gas, you might think that an explosion of that tank is a distinct possibility. And to be fair, it would be if not for the many safety features designed into these systems.

Propane tanks are designed to be safe and to avoid the possibility of an explosion. Specifically, they include a pressure relief valve that can jump into action and relieve the pressure that might be building up in the tank before an explosion could occur. Most likely, you’ll never even find yourself in a position where the pressure relief valve will be forced into action – but it’s there if it is required, as a backup plan to make sure an explosion does not occur.

Doing Your Part

You can rest assured that opting for propane as an energy source is an effective, and safe, way to go. The propane industry has developed many safety regulations and systems over the years, and as a result, harmful incidents are exceedingly rare. With that said, there are some steps you can take to avoid creating a dangerous situation on your property.

• Care for your tank. Keeping your propane tank in good condition is one of the best ways to stay far away from the possibility of an incident. Working with Berico to have the tank inspected regularly is a great starting point for this kind of safety.
• Don’t do anything risky. You don’t want to have an open flame close to your propane tank, and you don’t want to discharge a firearm in proximity to the tank, either. Basically, be responsible when around a propane tank or any other stored fuel source.
• Note any changes. If you see that something has changed about your tank, or that the performance of the tank seems off in some way, don’t wait around and put off dealing with the problem. This is a perfect situation to bring in Berico to have a look at the tank and determine if it is safe to use, or if a repair or replacement is required.

There is no reason for any safety concerns to dissuade you from using propane as an affordable, reliable fuel source on your property. Reach out to Berico today to learn more.

Keeping up with HVAC maintenance is an important part of owning a home. If you allow your maintenance tasks to fall behind, you might find that your system no longer works as efficiently as it once did – and there may be more repairs that pop up along the way, as well. Fortunately, it’s pretty easy to keep up with maintenance, especially when you work with a professional partner like Berico.

For all Greensboro heating repair and HVAC maintenance needs, turn to the team at Berico for assistance. With years of experience and a solid reputation in this industry, your system will be in good hands from start to finish.

What is Preventive HVAC Maintenance?

The idea of preventive HVAC maintenance is to stay ahead of any problems that may be likely to come up within your system in the months and years ahead. By cleaning and inspecting various components, it’s possible for a professional technician to keep the system healthy and steer clear of common issues. This means you can avoid surprise downtime when the system needs a repair, and you’ll likely save money in the long run, as well.

HVAC maintenance is one of those areas where you need to spend a little bit of time and money upfront in order to save even more time and money later. Sure, it might be hard to convince yourself to spend money on HVAC maintenance while the system is working nicely, but stick with a consistent maintenance schedule and the results you get will speak for themselves.

Key Fall Maintenance Points

It’s likely that your HVAC system has to work hard to keep your home comfortable throughout the year, both during the hot summer season and during the chilly winter months. The first type of maintenance we’d like to discuss is the fall maintenance visit, which obviously takes place before the harshest winter weather moves in. Some of the key points that should be managed during that visit include –

• One important fall maintenance point is to make sure your air conditioner is in good shape after working hard all summer. This can include having the coils cleaned, draining pans, and checking various other components.
• To get ready for cold weather, the furnace (or heat pump) should be carefully inspected to make sure all parts are working as they should. This inspection will help you get efficient, reliable performance all season long.
• This is a good time to check the status of all vents to make sure they are set in the right positions for warming the house during winter. Some of them may have been closed long ago so it’s easy to forget that they need to be moved back. If you have some rooms that feel colder than you would expect, make sure the vents in those areas are fully open.

Don’t Forget About Spring Preparations

Just as in the fall, maintenance in the spring season can help get your system ready for the challenges of the changing weather – the arrival of summer, in this case. Making sure your air conditioning system is fully prepared for the hot, humid weather that is sure to arrive will help you stay comfortable all the way through the summer and into the early fall.

Also, this article wouldn’t be complete without talking about the importance of changing the air filter in your system regularly. Not only will this be done during maintenance visits, but you should also change it out on your own a couple of other times during the year to keep the system running properly on fresh air. Reach out to Berico to learn more about maintenance options and what is best for you and your busy schedule.

The Lake Reidsville Recreation park is located at 630 Water Works Road, Reidsville, NC 27320. Lake Reidsville can provide a full day of fun for individuals and families with plenty of opportunities for activities; swimming, camping, and hiking, just to name a few.

About Lake Reidsville Recreation Area

When you want to spend some time outside, then Lake Reidsville is great place to go. With more than 750 acres and a pristine lake, it’s a beautiful and expansive park. Additional amenities include, picnic shelters, soccer fields, basketball courts, and a playground, making it an inviting place for people of all ages. Another great place to visit

While many people come for the day, there are options for those who would like to stay for the whole weekend or more. Lake Reidsville is open all year long and offers options for camping and enjoying the park for the entire week.

Things to Do

The lake is an excellent place to spend a day with family and friends, no matter the time of year or the weather. Some of the many things that you can do when visiting Lake Reidsville include:

• Disc golf: Get some friends together and have a friendly competition of disc golf. You can get out in the sun and enjoy a wonderful round of disc golf with family, friends or even make new friends on the popular disc golf course.
• Water Activities: You can bring your own boat, canoe or kayak or rent one from the park. Skiing is allowed in specific areas of the lake. Swimming and jet skis, however are not allowed. Fishing is a popular activity, particular in many of the little coves in and around the lake.
• Camping: Lake Reidsville provides 46 wooded sites. All of these have electricity and water and 28 have “full-hookup.”
• Picnics and amphitheater: Many special events, including concerts, are held at Lake Reidsville throughout the year. Guests can also rent this space out for parties and big events as they need. There are also grills and picnic tables available to use on a first come, first served basis.
• Additional activities: There is plenty to do when you are at the lake. Horseshoes, soccer fields, tennis and basketball courts, and a playground for the younger kids. Special events and fishing tournaments are held throughout the year as well.

Lake Hunt is just a Hope Skip and a Jump away

As long as you are looking for fun in the area, Lake Hunt is located just a few miles away, and close to the city of Reidsville. If you want to extend your stay or get more time in the great outdoors, Lake Hunt is a another good place to explore. The city of Reidsville requires passes to visit both of these lakes.

Spending time at the lake is never time wasted and Lake Reidsville provides a lot of fun  things for families to enjoy all year long. Get away from the city and enjoy some rest and relaxation at Lake Reidsville Recreation Park at 630 Water Works Road. Reidsville, NC 27320.

More about Eden

If you have a heating oil tank on your property, it’s essential that the tank is maintained properly over time. As the years add up, wear and tear can take a toll on the tank, and it could become a safety concern at some point. Knowing what maintenance points are important will help you avoid any trouble in the future.

To have home heating oil delivered by a reliable supplier that offers great service and affordable rates, trust Berico with your business. Berico is an active member of the NC Petroleum Marketers Association and offers rebates to customers interested in upgrading to a newer tank. Of course, if you need heating system repair or other services, Berico will be able to help with those issues, as well.

Know the Risks

While it might seem like a pretty stable system, and it is in many ways, there are some problems that can come up with a heating oil tank. One potential issue is when contaminants make their way into the tank and degrade the quality of the fuel that is added. If it doesn’t seem like you are getting great performance from your system despite the rest of the equipment being in good condition, a contamination of the tank might be to blame.

An older tank could also develop a leak if it is not maintained correctly over time. This would obviously create a messy, dangerous situation that you would prefer to avoid, if at all possible. Considering the modest requirements to maintain your tank, it’s more than worth it to pay attention to this matter and make sure your tank doesn’t degrade to a point where it becomes a problem.

Basic Maintenance Points

As a homeowner, there are some basic things you can do on your own to check on the condition of your heating oil tank. As a starting point, get into the habit of looking for leaks regularly – perhaps once a month or so. This is as easy as just visually inspecting the exterior of the tank, as well as any valves and the lines that are connected to the tank if it is an above ground take.  It should only take a few moments to look over the tank carefully and doing so could enable you to catch a small little leak before it has the chance to turn into a bigger problem.  If your tank is below ground, you will need a professional to do an inspection.

The other key point to check on, for a tank that is positioned above ground, is the support that holds up the tank. Sometimes, these legs will lose strength over time, or they will slightly shift out of position. It should go without saying that you don’t want the tank to fall down while filled with oil, so inspecting the status of the legs from time to time should be on your list.

Have It Checked

There is only so much you can do on your own when it comes to maintaining your heating oil tank. For everything else, turn to the professionals at Berico to have the tank maintained and checked for any issues. Of course, that same team will be able to perform the necessary repairs should any problems be located, and they can also recommend a replacement tank if yours is past the point of reasonable repair. Get in touch with Berico today to learn more.